FAIRFIELD, NJ | Label converter Logotech will display labels made from stone material as well as interactive, media-enhanced labels at Interpack in Düsseldorf, Germany, from May 12–16. Logotech is part of The Tadbik Group, an Israel-based family of companies that covers the gamut from p-s labels to shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, RFID, and other smart label technology, and flexible packaging.

“We work hard to stay on the leading edge of label technology, and the chance to work in the Interpack booth beside the global team from The Tadbik Group really helps us keep in touch with what’s happening around the world,” says Leslie Gurland, (pffc-online.com/mag/paper_leslie_gurland) president of Logotech.

Gurland says the label made of stone–with face stock manufactured by Design & Source Productions and converted into label material by Wausau–will be a hit at the show. Marketed under the TerraSkin trademark, the face stock is a blend of 80% calcium carbonate–primarily processed from limestone, marble, and other construction waste–and 20% PE. The result is a strong, textured label that takes ink with virtually no spread with impeccable “green” credentials, says Gurland.

“TerraSkin has a rich, white color, but it’s manufactured without bleach, caustic materials or strong acids,” Gurland explains. “Because of the properties of the material, manufacturing it takes about half the energy required to make conventional plastics, so its carbon footprint is much lower. And calcium carbonate and PE are both commonly handled in today’s waste and recycling systems, so it fits right into the recycling stream.”

Media Enhanced Labels will also be a big draw, Gurland predicts. The labels look normal, with a full complement of graphics and copy. But underlying the graphics is a digital watermark that can be detected by smart phones like iPhones and Android cell phones. A momentary scan of the label–like taking a photo–connects users to web sites featuring more information on the product. Unlike the square QR codes that are becoming familiar to many shoppers, Media Enhanced Labels don’t require designers to block out space for code.